Inboard-outboard boat propulsion unit



June 18, 1963 Filed March 18. 1958 F. P. ELLZEY INBOARD-OUTBOARD BOAT PROPULSION UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 w? l/vwz/ AGE/v7- June 18, 1963 F. P. ELLZEY INBOARD-OUTBOARD BOAT PROPULSION UNIT 3 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed March 18, 1958 FIG. .5.

A GENT June 18, 1963 F. P. ELLZEY 3,0 9

INBOARD-OUTBOARD BOAT PROPULSION UNIT Filed March 18, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I] D FIG. HM

/m. Z// a Z ya A? 54259 3,094,097 lNBOARD-OUTBOARD BOAT PROPULSION UNIT Floyd P. Ellzey, Hawthorne, Calif.

(2301 Marshallfield Land, Redondo Beach, Calif.) Filed Mar. 18, 1958, Ser. No. 722,207 8 Claims. (Cl. 115-41) This invention has to do with boat propulsion and is particularly concerned with gearing for an inboard-outboard type propulsion unit wherein the propeller as sembly is mounted outside the boat and is articulated to swing upwardly from a normal operating position.

Various angle drives and articulated drives, of the type herein disclosed, have been devised and are in use. However, said drives are not completely satisfactory; in that they are usually cumbersome and ungainly in appearance; in that some of them involve complex and costly gearing; in that some of them do not remain engaged with the power plant at all times; and in that they do not always provide for asymmetrical and balanced installation. Further, the manufacture of the housing elements and seals therefor have been complicated and costly, all with the result that said units have not been entirely successful, and have not been completely accepted commercially.

The propulsion unit provided by the present invention is unique in several respects and obviates the shortcomings referred to above. That is, the structure involved I is of minimum size and weight for any given amount of torque to be transmitted thereby, and is not, therefore, cumbersome nor ungainly. The structure involves simple and easily formed gears for economical and reliable operation. The gearing remains engaged with the power plant at all times. And, an important characteristic feature is that the unit and installation thereof is symmetrical, the input and output shafts being aligned so that the output shaft swings in a plane coincidental with the centerline or axis of the power plant, and in a single engine installation with the centerline of the boat.

A general object of this invention is to provide a practical, reliable and relatively simple and inexpensive inboard-outboard type propulsion unit for boats. The propulsion unit, as herein disclosed, has all the advantages of both inboard and outboard installation without sacrificing any of the desirable features of said two'distinct types of installation.

An object of this invention is to provide an inboardoutboard propulsion unit that is of minimum size and weight and which is adapted to transmit a maximum amount of power or torque for said size and weight. In the structure that I provide, the gearing is selected to transmit the desired power and the housing elements immediately surround each gear element, all to the end that the structure is not all cumbersome nor ungainly.

Another object of this invention is to provide a propulsion unit of the type under consideration wherein simple easily formed gears are employed for economical and reliable operation, and further, wherein said gears are related to each other in a proper and acceptable manner to give the best of service. In the structure that I provide there are two pairs of gears and the only toothed engagement is between the two gears of each pair, whereby said gears can be properly matched and positioned relative to each other.

It is an object of this invention to provide gearing in a propulsion unit of the type thus far referred to that is adjustable so that the above mentioned pairs of gears are adjustable for proper matching and positioning as individual circumstances require in each unit of construction.

It is another object of this invention to provide a propulsion unit of the character referred to that is articulated and wherein the propeller assembly is adapted to swing upwardly from a normal operating position, and wherein the propeller assembly remains geared with the power plant at all times. With the structure herein disclosed, there is a longitudinally disposed input shaft and an articulated output shaft, and there is a single intermediate shaft, all of which remain in geared connection at all times.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a symmetrical propulsion unit and an installation of the type under consideration wherein the propeller assembly swings upwardly from a normal operating position in a plane of movement coincidental with the central axis of the input shaft, and in most cases also, or substantially, coincidental with the central axis of the power plant.

Further, it is an object of this invention to provide a propulsion unit of the character thus far referred to that is provided with means for adequately lubricating the same. With the relationship of elements herein disclosed, each essential moving part is bathed with lubricant during operation. 7

It is a further object of this invention to provide a simple and effective steering means for controlling the rotative position of the propeller assembly in a propulsion unit of the type herein disclosed.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a typical installation of the propulsion unit that I provide, and illustrating in phantorn lines the manner in which the propeller assembly is adapted to be articulated. FIG. 2. is a rear or stern end view of the boat that is illustrated in FIG. 1 and is a view taken as indicated by line 2-2 on FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken as indicated by line 3-3 on FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on FIG. 3.

The handling and manipulation of boats is accompanied by the problem of making landings, or coming ashore,

and by the process of hauling the boat out of water and onto shore. Further, there is always the danger or running aground. When power boats are involved, the above mentioned situations are of great importance since a power boat must have an underwater propeller assembly.

carried beneath the hull. For this reason, boats having inboard power plants with fixed propeller assemblies must be handled carefully so as to avoid damage to said assembly, and as a general rule cannot be beached or hauled ashore without special gear. On the other hand, boats having outboard power plants with shiftable, or removable, propeller assemblies are much more easily handled, and can be run aground or ashore without adverse effect on the propeller assembly and/or power plant connected therewith. However, the latter type propulsion unit is limited in size and power and becomes rather bulky and difficult to handle when made of any appreciable size and power since the power plant is made integral therewith. Therefore, it has been found to be advantageous to employ a permanently installed power plant within the boat land to devise an articulated propeller assembly geared thereto. 7

In View of the foregoing problem and objects, I have provided a propulsion unit X for use on or in connection with a boat or vessel Y to be powered by a power plant Z. The boat Y may vary widely and involves a hull 10 with a bottom 11 and sides 12. The particular hull 10 shown has a flat vertically disposed transom 13, it being understood that the back or stem of the boat, as formed by the transom 13, may be varied as particular circumstances require. The power plant Z may be any suitable prime mover adapted to apply torque to a shaft for rotating the same, and, for example, it may be an internal combustion engine 14. As indicated, the engine 14 is carried in the hull on a horizontally disposed axis, centrally of the hull, and connected directly to the propul sion unit X by a shaft 15. It is preferred that universal joints 16 and 17 be provided at the opposite ends of the shaft to connect it to the engine 14 and to the unit X.

The propulsion unit X is adapted to receive torque from the rotating shaft 15 and to transmit it to a propeller assembly P, and involves, generally, a frame A, an arm B, means C pivotally joining the arm B to the frame A, an input or drive shaft D and a pair of drive gears B, an output or driven shaft F and a pair of driven gears G, an intermediate shaft H, and various other features of construction all as hereinafter described. The frame A is adapted to be attached to the hull of the boat in fixed relationship thereto while the arm B is mounted by the means C to swing on a horizontal axis extending transverse or abeam of the hull 10. The drive shaft D is carried by the frame A on a longitudinally disposed or foreand-aft axis while the driven shaft F is carried by the arm B on an articulated axis. The intermediate shaft H operates between the shafts D and F and is carried by the means C through the frame A on said horizontal transverse axis of said means, The pairs of gears E and G operate on the shafts D, F and H, as hereinafter described.

The frame A provided for attachment to the hull 10 and for supporting the other elements of the structure is a rigid part, preferably a casting or the like, that journals the drive shaft D and houses the drive gears B. When the transom 13 is vertically disposed, as in the case illustrated, the frame A involves a vertically disposed mounting plate 20 and a housing carried by the plate. That is, the frame A is sectional, the plate 20 and housing 25 thereof being adjustably related to each other. The plate 20 rotatably supports the drive shaft D on its longitudinally disposed axis, as shown, and has therefore a forwardly projecting extension 21 carrying spaced anti-friction bearings 22 and 23. The plate 20 is secured to the transom 13 as by a series of circumferentially spaced bolt type fasteners 24 and the housing 25 is secured to the plate 20 as by a series of circumferentially spaced bolt type fasteners 26. The plate and housing are of substantial diameter there being cooperatively related centering elements formed concentric with the axis of the bearings 22 and 23. In practice, a centering boss 27, projects rearwardly from the plate 20 to engage in a bore 28 in the housing 25, and in accordance with the invention, shims 29 are inserted between the plate 20 and housing 25 to space them axially.

The housing 25 rotatably supports the intermediate shaft H and supports the arm B, all through the means C later described. As shown, the housing 25 involves a central body 30 and a rearwardly projecting support 35. The body 36 has the bore 28 entering therein to form a chamber 31, said chamber being defined by upper and lower walls 32 and 33 that join at one side of the housing and that extend horizontally to join with the support at the other side of the housing. The back of the body 30 is closed by a wall 34 so that the chamber 31 is a closed chamber. The support 35 is at a right angle to the body 30 (as shown), and a bore 36 enters therein to form a chamber 37. In accordance with the invention, the support 35 is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the plate 20 and its bore 36 enters the outer side of the support, the chamber 37 being defined by the upper and lower walls 38 and 39 that join at the rear of the support and that form continuations of the walls 32 and 33 above described. The inner side of the support 35 is closed by a wall 40 so that the chamber 37 is a closed chamber. In accordance with the invention, the wall 40 has a bore 41 extending therethrough on the transverse axis of the means C later described, and to the end that the chamber 37 opens toward the central portion of the structure rearward of the wall 34.

The means C for pivotally joining the arm B to the frame A is carried by the frame A and rotatably or pivotally supports the arm B to swing in a plane coincidental with the longitudinally extending axis of the bearings 22 and 23 and drive shaft D. As best illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the means C involves a supporting spindle 45 that extends horizontally and transverse of the structure on an axis intersecting the axis of the plate 20 at a right angle. The spindle 45 may be supported or held at either one or at both ends and is preferably supported at both ends, as shown. However, the particular mounting means C shown cantilevers the spindle 45 from one end by a cover 46 and there is also a bearing support bracket 47 at the other end. The cover 46 is a disc-shaped element centered in the bore 36, and in accordance with the invention, shims 48 are inserted between the support 35 and cover 46 to space them axially of the spindle. As shown, the spindle 45 is an elongate part threadedly engaged in and shouldered against the inside of the cover 46. Further, the spindle carries spaced anti-friction bearings 49 and 49 to carry the intermediate shaft H as later described.

The arm B is provided to carry the propeller assembly P and is an elongate element rotatably supported on the spindle 45. In accordance with the invention, the arm C has an inner housing portion 50 at the central portion of the structure and it has an outer propeller assembly carrying portion 55 projecting radially of the axis of the means C and spindle 45. The arm B rotatably supports the driven shaft F on its articulated axis, and has therefor bearings, preferably spaced anti-friction bearings 56 and 57. The axis of the bearings 56 and 57 is normal to the axis of the spindle 45 and is coincidental with the axis of the bearings 22 and 23 when the arm B is horizontally disposed, to the end that the arm swings in a vertically disposed plane extending through the axis of the bearings 22 and 23. The housing portion 50 of the arm B has a bore 51 rotatably engaged with the spindle 45 and has a counter bore 52 entering one side thereof to form a closed chamber 53. An 0 ring type seal, or the like, is engaged within the bore 51 in order to engage the spindle 45 and close the chamber 53. As shown, an axial extension 54 projects from the housing portion 50 and is turned to slidably enter the bore 41 in the wall 40, there being an 0 ring type seal, or the like. in the bore 41 to have sealing engagement with the extension 54 as it rotates therein to close the chambers.

The present invention is characterized by the relationship of the chambers 31, 37 and 53 and by the relationship of shaft D, F and H as hereinabove described, and is further characterized by the particular relationship of the two pairs of gears E and G. As best illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the chambers 31 and 37 combine to establish an L-shaped portion of a compartment, While the chamber 53 is in open communication with chamber 37 and extends parallel with the chamber 31. In accordance with the invention, the drive gears E operate in the compartment established by the chambers 31 and 37, while the driven gears G operate in the portion of the compartment established by the chamber 53. Thus, it will be readily apparent that the pairs of gears E and G are completely enclosed.

The pair of drive gears E is provided to receive torque from the drive shaft D and to deliver said torque to the intermediate shaft H. The two gears 61 and 62 that are involved are right angle gears, or bevel or mitre gears, the gear 61 being carried in the chamber 31 by the shaft D to rotate on the bearings 22 and 23, the gear 62 being carried in the chamber 37 by the shaft H to rotate on the bearings 49 and '49. The shaft D has shouldered engagement with the bearings 22 and 23 for axial thrust and it projects forwardly from the extension 21 to connect with the universal joint 17 and it projects into the chamber 31 to carry the gear 61. The shaft H is a tubular shaft engaged over the spindle 45 and has shouldered engagement with the bearings 49 and 49' for axial thrust, and it extends between the two chambers 37 and 53. The gear 62 is carried on the end portion of the shaft H that enters into the chamber 37. When no gear reduction is required, the gears 61 and 62 are of like diameter and are of substantially large diameter in order to offset the shaft H substantially rearward of the wall 34 of the housing 25.

The pair of driven gears G are provided to receive torque from the intermediate shaft H and to deliver said torque to the driven shaft F. The two gears 63 and 64 that are involved are right angle gears, or bevel or mitre gears, the gear 63 being carried in the chamber 53 by the shaft F to rotate on the bearings 56 and -7. The shaft F has shouldered engagement with the bearings 56 and 57 for axial thrust and it projects into the chamber 53 to carry the gear 64. The gear 63 is carried at the end por tion of the shaft H that enters into the chamber 53. When no gear reduction is required the gears 63 and 64 are of like diameter and in accordance with the invention are of substantially small diameter in order to be accommodated within the smaller chamber 53 that occurs in the housing portion 50 rearward of the wall 34.

In the. particular case illustrated the shaft F revolves in a direction opposite to the turning of the shaft D, this function being accomplished by meshing the gears 63 and 64, as shown, with engagement of the gear 64 at the periphery thereof nearest or adjacent the gear 62'. How ever, this function may be easily reversed if desired, by simply engaging the gear 64 at the periphery thereof opposite the side nearest or adjacent the gear 62. This latter arrangement of elements, although not shown in the drawings, is easily made by extending the bore 51 sufiiciently to accommodate the gear 63 at the opposite side of the gear 64.

In order to adjust the gears 61 and 62 it is. a simple matter to employ the suitable shims 29 and 48 as above described so that proper positioning of the gears is 0 tained on their two angular-1y related axes. Further, and in order to adjust the gears 63 and 64, I provide shims 65 and 66 to properly position said gears on their two angularly related axes. The shims 65 are carried over the spindle 45 between the gear 63 and the inner housing portion 54 of the arm B to shift the arm axially relative to thes'haft H. The shims 66 are carried by the arm B between a shoulder on the arm and the bearings 56 and 57 or a movable element 70 that carries the bearings 56 and 57, to shift the shaft F axially, and as shown, toshift the element 70 axially relative to the arm B. With the shims that I provide the pairs of gears E and G can be adjustably related separately of each other and to the end that said gear sets are properly matched and meshed for most efiicient operation.

In carrying out the invention the propeller assembly P is rotatable so that it can be turned in :a manner to direct the forward motion of the boat. As pointed out above, the element 7% is a movable element and is provided to carry the propeller assembly P so that it rotates. The element 70 is rotatably supported in the arm B on spaced bearings 71 and 72, preferably anti-friction bearings, and the element 70 carries the bearings 56 and 57. The element 70 has a central axis and is positioned by a shoulder 73, the shims 66 being employed (as shown) between said shoulder and the bearing 71. In the particular case illustrated, the driven shaft -F has a splined bore 74 adapted to couple with and to have driving engagement with the propeller assembly P. Therefore, the shaft F may be a relatively short shaft, tubular in general configuration, and characterized by a splined drive socket that open outwardly or downwardly, as shown.

The propeller assembly P may be of any suitable design and involves, generally, a casing 75, a driving shaft 76, -a propeller shaft 77, and a propeller 78. The casing 75 has a shaft housing 80 that is normally vertically disposed and it has a gear housing 81 that is normally horizontally disposed. The housing 30 forms an extension 6 of the arm B while the housing 81 is carried at the lower terminal end of the assembly. The shafts 76 and 77 are suitably journaled in the two housings, respectively, the driving shaft '76 being engaged in the splined bore 74 of the driven shaft F, and there is a geared connection 82 between the two shafts so that the propeller 7 3 is rotated when the driving shaft 76 is turned by the unit X hereinabove described. As indicated, the gear connection 82 is of the usual type or construction and there is a manually operable control element 83 adapted to shift the geared connection 82 to reverse the rotation of the propeller 78. In practice, the element 70 of the arm B is provided with a face or flange 35 for receiving the propeller assembly P, the assembly P being secured to the arm B as by bolt type fasteners 86.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the propeller assembly P is rotatably carried by the arm B, and in accordance with the invention I provide a steering means T for turning the element 70 and the assembly P carried thereby. The means T involves a flexible cable trained over pulleys 91 and 92, said cable being shifted or operated by a suitable steering gear or wheel (not shown). The cable 96 is wrapped around a drum-shaped portion 93 of the assembly P and is anchored thereto and has two live ends extending tangentially from the drum portion 93 in opposite directions. The pulleys 91 are supported by brackets 94 on the arm B there being two pulleys 91, one to handle each live end of the cable 90. The pulleys 91 are on axes disposed to direct the live ends of the cable to extend longitudinally of the arm B toward the axis of the means C and spindle 45. pulleys 92 are on axes disposed to receive the live ends of the cable from the pulleys 91 and to direct each cable end outwardly along the axis of the spindle 45. As shown, there is a threaded socket at each end of the spindle 45 and there is a fitting 95 screwed into each socket to swivelly cary the two separate pulleys 92. With the cable and pulleys related as described, the articulated arm B and propeller assembly P can swing into any position without affecting operation of the steering means T. When the cable 90 is shifted, the drum 93 is turned to rotate the element 70 and the assembly P carried thereby.

In order to secure the arm B in certain desired positions I provide a lock means L. For example, it may be desired to secure the assembly P in the operating position shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, or it may be desired to secure the assembly P in a raised position where it projects vertically. For this purpose I provide a manually operable lock pin 95 adapted to hold the assembly down, and I provide a manually operable lock pin 97 adapted to hold the assembly up. The pins are shown as being carried by the frame A while the openings are shown as being formed in the arm B. In practice, the pin 95 may be a spring biased pin while the pin 97 is a remotely controlled pin operated by a control element 99. It will be apparent how the element 99 can be manually operated to lock the assembly P in working position so that the propeller assembly can be effectively reversed.

The boat propulsion unit and gearing hereinabove described has all the advantages of both inboard and outboard installations. The two simple sets of gears that I provide remain meshed and are completely housed and sealed off from the outside thereof. In addition to the seals above referred to, the unit X also involves an O ring type seal at to seal between the housing portion 55 of the arm B and the element 76 that rotates. Further, a shaft seal is provided at 162 to seal between the shaft F and the element 70, or arm B, as the case may be. Further, a shaft seal may also be provided at 104 to seal between the shaft D and the extension 21. Thus, the compartment formed by the chambers 31, 37 and 53 is completely closed and is adapted to be filled to any suitable level with lubricant, to the end that each gear and bearing is bathed in said lubricant whether directly or indirectly as by lubricant carried by the moving parts The two involved. The control and manipulation of the articulated arm and propeller assembly P will be apparent from the inherent functions of the structure as disclosed.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A boat propulsion unit of the character described and including, a frame adapted to be attached to the boat and having a housing with a central body with a chamber therein and with a laterally disposed support with a chamber therein open to the first mentioned chamber, said support having an inwardly faced wall with an opening therethrough, a drive shaft carried by the frame on a longitudinally disposed axis, an arm shiftable relative to the frame to support a propeller assembly and having a housing with an extension engaged through the said opening in the wall of the support, said housing having a chamber therein in open communication with the first mentioned chambers, a driven shaft carried by the arm to operate said propeller assembly, means pivotally joining the arm to the frame on a substantially horizontal transverse axis, an intermediate shaft on an axis coincidental with the axis of said means, the axis of the driven shaft being normal to the axis of the intermediate shaft to swing in a plane substantially coincidental with the axis of the drive shaft, and a gear drive having a pair of gears operated by the drive shaft and within the chamber in the frame housing to drive a pair of gears within the chamber in the arm housing and operating the driven shaft.

2. A boat propulsion unit of the character described and including, a frame adapted to be attached to the boat and having a housing with a central body with a chamber therein and with a laterally disposed support with a. chamber therein open to the first mentioned chamber, said support having an inwardly faced wall with an opening therethrough, a drive shaft carried by the frame on a longitudinally disposed axis, an arm shiftable relative to the frame to support a propeller assembly and having a housing with an extension engaged through the said opening in the wall of the support, said housing having a chamber therein in open communication with the first mentioned chambers, a driven shaft carried by the arm to operate said propeller assembly, a spindle projecting through the chamber and opening in the support and pivotally joining the arm to the frame on a substantially horizontal transverse axis, an intermediate shaft on an axis coincidental with the axis of said means, the axis of the driven shaft being normal to the axis of the intermediate shaft to swing in a plane substantially coincidental with the axis of the drive shaft, and a gear drive having a pair of gears operated by the drive shaft and within the chamber in the frame housing to drive a pair of gears within the chamber in the arm housing and operating the driven shaft.

3. A boat propulsion unit of the character described and including, a frame adapted to be attached to the boat and having a housing with a central body with a chamber therein and with a laterally disposed support with a chamber therein open to the first mentioned chamber, said support having an inwardly faced wall with an opening therethrough, a drive shaft carried by the frame on a longitudinally disposed axis, an arm shiftable relative to the frame to support a propeller assembly and having a housing with an extension engaged through the said opening in the support, said housing having a chamber therein in open communication with the first mentioned chambers, a driven shaft carried by the arm to operate said propeller assembly, a spindle projecting through the chamber and opening in the support and carried by a cover closing the said chamber in the support pivotally joining the arm to the frame on a substantially horizontal transverse axis, an intermediate shaft on an axis coincidental with the axis of said means, the axis of the driven shaft being normal to the axis of the intermediate shaft to swing in a plane substantially coincidental with the axis of the drive shaft, and a gear drive having a pair of gears operated by the drive shaft and within the chamber in the frame housing to drive a pair of gears within the chamber in the arm housing and operating the driven shaft.

4. A boat propulsion unit of the character described and including, a frame adapted to be attached to the boat and having a housing with a central body with a chamber therein and with a laterally disposed support with a chamber therein open to the first mentioned chamber, said support having an inwardly faced wall with an opening therethrough, a drive shaft carried by the frame on a longitudinally disposed axis, an arm shiftable relative to the frame to support a propeller assembly and having a housing with an extension engaged through the said opening in the support, said housing having a chamber therein in open communication with the first mentioned chambers, a driven shaft carried by the arm to operate said propeller assembly, a spindle projecting through the chamber and opening in the support and carried by a cover closing the said chamber in the support and by a bearing bracket projecting from the frame laterally opposite from the support pivotally joining the arm to the frame on a substantially horizontal transverse axis, an intermediate shaft on an axis coincidental with the axis of said means, the axis of the driven shaft being normal to the axis of the intermediate shaft to swing in a plane substantially coincidental with the axis of the drive shaft, and a gear drive having a pair of gears operated by the drive shaft and witbin'the chamber in the frame housing to drive a pair of gears within the chamber in the arm housing and operating the driven shaft.

5. In combination, a propeller assembly including a casing carrying a drive shaft and an angularly related propeller driving shaft, and a unit to shiftably carry said assembly and drive the propeller thereof and including, a frame adapted to be attached to a boat hull and having a housing with a central body with a chamber therein and with a laterally disposed support with a chamber therein open to the first mentioned chamber, said support having an inwardly faced wall with an opening therethrough, a drive shaft carried by the frame on a longitudinally disposed axis, an arm shiftable relative to the frame to support a propeller assembly and having a housing with a chamber therein in open communication with an extension engaged through the said opening in the support, said housing having a chamber therein in open communication with the first mentioned chambers, a driven shaft carried by the arm to operate said propeller assembly, means pivotally joining the arm to the frame on a substantially horizontal transverse axis, an intermediate shaft on an axis coincidental with the axis of said means, the axis of the driven shaft being normal to the axis of the intermediate shaft to swing in a plane substantially coincidental with the axis of the drive shaft, and a gear drive having a pair of gears operated by the drive shaft and within the chamber in the frame housing to drive a pair of gears within the chamber in the arm housing and operating the driven shaft.

6. In combination, a propeller assembly including a casing carrying a drive shaft and an angularly related propeller driving shaft, and a unit to shiftably carry said assembly and drive the propeller thereof and including, a frame adapted to be attached to a boat hull and having a housing with a central body with a chamber therein and with a laterally disposed support with a chamber therein open to the first mentioned chamber, said support having an inwardly faced wall with an opening therethrough, a drive shaft carried by the frame on a longitudinally disposed axis, an arm shiftable relative to the frame to support a propeller assembly and having a housing with an extension engaged through the said opening in the support, said housing having a chamber therein in open communication with the first mentioned chambers, a driven shaft carried by the arm to operate said propeller assembly, a spindle projecting through the chamber and opening in the support and pivotally joining the arm to the frame on a substantially horizontal transverse axis, an intermediate shaft on an axis coincidental with the axis of said means, the axis of the driven shaft being normal to the axis of the intermediate shaft to swing in a plane substantially coincidental with the axis of the drive shaft, and a gear drive having a pair of gears operated by the drive shaft and within the chamber in the frame housing to drive a pair of gears within the chamber in the arm housing and operating the driven shaft.

7. In combination, a propeller assembly including a casing carrying a drive shaft and an angularly related propeller driving shaft, and a unit to shiftably carry said assembly and drive the propeller thereof and including, a frame adapted to be attached to a boat hull and having a housing with a central body with a chamber therein and with a laterally disposed support with a chamber therein open to the first mentioned chamber, said support having an inwardly faced wall with an opening therethrough, a drive shaft carried by the frame on a longitudinally disposed axis, an arm shiftable relative to the frame to support a propeller assembly and having a housing with an extension engaged through the said opening in the support, said housing having a chamber therein in open communication with the first mentioned chambers, a driven shaft carried by the arm to operate said propeller assembly, a spindle projecting through the chamber and opening in the support and carried by a cover closing the said chamber in the support pivotally joining the arm to the frame on a substantially horizontal transverse axis, an intermediate shaft on an axis coincidental with the axis of said means, the axis of the driven shaft being normal to the axis of the intermediate shaft to swing in a plane substantially coincidental with the axis of the drive shaft, and a gear drive having a pair of gears operated by the drive shaft and within the chamber in the frame housing to drive a pair of gears within the chamber in the arm housing and operating the driven shaft.

8. In combination, a propeller assembly including a casing carrying a drive shaft and an angularly related propeller driving shaft, and a unit to shiftably carry said assembly and drive the propeller thereof and including, a frame adapted to be attached to a boat hull and having a housing with a central body with a chamber therein and with a laterally disposed support with a chamber therein open to the first mentioned chamber, said support having an inwardly faced wall with an opening therethrough, a drive shaft carried by the frame on a longitudinally disposed axis, an arm shiftable relative to the frame to support a propeller assembly and having a housing with an extension engaged through the said opening in the support, said housing having a chamber therein in open communication with the first mentioned chambers, a driven shaft carried by the arm to operate said propeller assembly, a spindle projecting through the chamber and opening in the support and carried by a cover closing the said chamber in the support and by a bracket projecting from the frame laterally opposite from the support pivotally joining the arm to the frame on a substantially horizontal transverse axis, an intermediate shaft on an axis coincidental with the axis of said means, the axis of the intermediate shaft to swing in a plane substantially coincidental with the axis of the drive shaft, and a gear drive having a pair of gears operated by the drive shaft and within the chamber in the frame housing to drive a pair of gears within the chamber in the arm housing and operating the driven shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,335,597 Mathewson Nov. 30, 1943 2,458,813 Wanzer Jan. 11, 1949 2,752,875 Hills July 3, 1956 

1. A BOAT PROPULSION UNIT OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED AND INCLUDING, A FRAME ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHED TO THE BOAT AND HAVING A HOUSING WITH A CENTRAL BODY WITH A CHAMBER THEREIN AND WITH A LATERALLY DISPOSED SUPPORT WITH A CHAMBER THEREIN OPEN TO THE FIRST MENTIONED CHAMBER, SAID SUPPORT HAVING AN INWARDLY FACED WALL WITH AN OPENING THERETHROUGH, A DRIVE SHAFT CARRIED BY THE FRAME ON A LONGITUDINALLY DISPOSED AXIS, AN ARM SHIFTABLE RELATIVE TO THE FRAME TO SUPPORT A PROPELLER ASSEMBLY AND HAVING A HOUSING WITH AN EXTENSION ENGAGED THROUGH THE SAID OPENING IN THE WALL OF THE SUPPORT, SAID HOUSING HAVING A CHAMBER THEREIN IN OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH THE FIRST MENTIONED CHAMBERS, A DRIVEN SHAFT CARRIED BY THE ARM TO OPERATE SAID PROPELLER ASSEMBLY, MEANS PIVOTALLY JOINING THE ARM TO THE FRAME ON A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL TRANSVERSE AXIS, AN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ON AN AXIS COINCIDENTAL WITH THE AXIS OF SAID MEANS, THE AXIS OF THE DRIVEN SHAFT BEING NORMAL TO THE AXIS OF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT TO SWING IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY COINCIDENTAL WITH THE AXIS OF THE DRIVE SHAFT, AND A GEAR DRIVE HAVING A PAIR OF GEARS OPERATED BY THE DRIVE SHAFT AND WITHIN THE CHAMBER IN THE 